Dambulla Thunders owner released on bail
The owner of Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise team Dambulla Thunders, Tamim Rahman, was released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage on Friday. Rahman was arrested under the 2019 Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act, which relates to corruption.
When the case was heard, Senior State Counsel Udara Karunaratne, representing the Police Special Investigation Unit of the Ministry of Sports, urged the court to safeguard the identity of the complainant under the Witness Protection Act. Senior State Counsel also objected to the release of the accused on bail as he is a foreign national.
He was released on a cash bail of Rs.500,000 and two sureties of Rs.10 million each. The accused was also asked to give facial expression to the Special Police Unit and was asked the two sureties to produce police reports and ‘grama sevaka’ reports to prove their residence.
The case is scheduled to be called again on July 5. Shanaka Ranasinghe, PC, accompanied by Nadun Nagashena, Krishan de Alwis, Rakitha Rajapaksa and Madhawa Jayawardena appeared for the accused.
Following his arrest, the LPL organisers terminated its contract with Dambulla Thunders and signed up with a new owner based in the United State. The new franchise will be run by a local company named De Silva Holdings under the name of Dumbulla Sixes which was specifically set up for this purpose.